Vance Worley will try to get the Phillies their first win after the All Star break when he takes the mound tonight in Colorado. Though Worley has excellent career numbers against the Rockies (2.25 ERA), he’s never pitched at the notoriously pitcher-unfriendly Coors Field, which has a tendency to chew up young pitchers and spit them out. Can Vanimal handle the challenge of pitching in the thin air of the Rocky Mountains? We’ll find out tonight.

On the mound for the Rockies will be career-underachiever Jeremy Guthrie. Though Guthrie has never really lived up to his potential as a pitcher, he has had a field day in the ten innings he’s pitched against the Phillies, as his career 0.90 ERA when facing them indicates.

In the spirit of this mile-high series, sip on a can of original Coors as you witness the Phillies hit the road. The “Banquet Beer,” as it’s known, is 5 percent ABV and is the oldest of the Coors beers. Buy a six-pack, eat some steak and potatoes with it, and be sure to dispose of the cans by stepping on them, just as the Phils will hopefully do to the Rockies tonight. – By PatGo Phillies!

Nah, I expect them to play pretty well tonight. These skids don’t last forever, and you get into an opponent like the Rockies, weak as they are, and they’ll be okay. I expected more last night, but I think the negativity was an overreaction based on the continuation of the end of H1.
So, we’ll see, but I think they play a pretty clean game tonight, and win.

One definition of a clean game is where you take a lead, and you don’t have to stomp on the opponent’s throat, but not let them back in it. That’d be a welcome respite from far too many games so far this year.

That was interesting that Vic squared to bunt on the next to last pitch on that last at bat. Might have been on his own, but if that was from the bench, I’m not sure what the thinking was. Here’s a guy, and an important one you’re trying to shake from a season long stretch of mediocrity, and after a good first at bat, you gotta let him feed off it. A liner to center is how it winds up, and at least it’s something more to feed off as a good connection, even though it ended the inning.

ere was a series against the Mets I think in May at the Bank, and the Phils lost a lead in Game 1, and lost the game. Same thing in game 2. I don’t even recall the size of the leads, might have been small and early, but the suspicion was it was giving the Mets confidence. By game 3, even with the Phils leading, you knew what was coming. And it did.

Extra runs would help, because losing this one, against this mediocore club, after a 4 run first would define excruciating. Not to sound paranoid, but this year is what it is.

That’s an inning worth remembering if the Phils lose the game. The chain effect. Inning before, Pierre gets tossed stealing, setting up Worley to lead off the inning, and despite that, they get 2 on, helped by Tracy delaying the lefty until Howard, probably helping Utley get a hit to put the 2 on. and they still couldn’t score.

4 runs might do it, but you sure can’t bank on it. Gotta seize the chances you can.

Saavy baseball people like Buck and Duquette would seem foolish to think of Blanton right now. If the trade market thins, then Joe might look more favorable, but why spend chips now when Greinke might wind up available in another 2 weeks. Joe should be considered a Plan C for the time being.

That list of 2 inquiries for Pierre might double in a couple more weeks. What’s the rush to trade him? And besides, Juan’s got some good offense to talk about, but you just can’t forget his defensive weakness. A buyer has to beware.

“the sooner the Orioles make moves the better for them. No harm in waiting more, but if a decent deal comes take it.”

I might have sounded too patient on the O’s participation in the trade market. Essentially, what I was saying was Joe’s not worth rushing to. But that wild card race is tight, and if they scouted him, and saw something positive, maybe it’s sensible. If they are gonna trade earlier than later, I think they’d be better off trying to get Bartolo Colon or oft travelled Kevin Millwood than Joe from a list of less than ideal candidates, but their scouts might think differently.

After the first inning I thought they are off to a great start…..then nothing for several innings and the Rockies started chipping away and I thought Sh*t…not again. And I thought I hope they dont lose tonight but at least it looks like they made a concerted effort to stay in the game and not give up so easily. I enjoyed the game so much more because they put some effort into trying to protect their lead instead of the usual. Go Phillies….keep it up!!!